Insulated rail joint



' Sep; 4, 1,928.7

E. C. ZMMERMAN 'INSULATEQRAIL JOINT Filed Nov'. 23, 1925 Q #f @a Q I nINVENToR Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED sTAIs fr FFICE. I

EMIL CARI. ZIMMEIIMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIeNon 'ro e a o COMPANY,OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or MAINE.

INsuLA'rnn RAIL JOINT.

Application led November 23, 1925. Serial No. 70,767.

This invention relates to rail joints of the insulated type and hasspecial. reference to improvements in the design thereof adapted toproduce an improved oint possessing many advantages over structures asheretofore used while requiring a minimum amount of insulating material,which, in its arrangement is utilized to thebest advantage for itsintended purpose.

In accomplishing the purpose of the present invention, there is employedan improved form or construction of splice bar of reinl forced fishplate type specially designed to have added strength and rigidity at itscenter portion and of form allowing of its economical production by aforging operation. rIhe additional strength contributed by thereinforcing features allows'of the successful employment of. the fishplate type of splice bars incident to which there is a-substantial andimportant reduction in the area of insulating fibre required and afurther advantage is obtained in that the use of standard tie plates-upon the joint ties is permitted and the requirement of base insulationeliminated with resulting economy. My improved insulating jointstructure furthermore readily allows of building up with differentthicknesses of bre to compensate or take care of varied spacing of shingsurfaces of'different rail sections,

vthereby allowing of economy in die investments. The improved joint is,moreover, advantageous for the use in conjunction with frog and switchinstallations where close clearance conditions are present.

Other important features and advantages of the present invention will bemore fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings whereinlike reference characters are applied to the corresponding parts in theseveral views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an insulating joint embodying the features ofmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a view thereof in side elevation, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line a-a of Fig. 1 asviewed from the left.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a suitable modication.

In the approved embodiment of the features of the present invention asshown in the drawings, 1-1 indicate the track rail ends to be joined, 22 indicate the splice bars surfaces of the underside ofthe railhead andupper surface of the rail base flange. Interposed between the rail endsand the splice bars, there are positioned the insulating fibre members 6and the splice bars and joint are secured by means of the usual bolts 7passedk through apertures in the bars vand rail .ends and insulated fromthe bars by means of tubular insulating bushings 8 fitted upon the boltsand within the bar apertures and also by Lmeans of libre insulatingstrips 9 posil tioned between the outer surfaces of the bars --and thebolt straps orl washer bars 10 fitted upon the bolts. Four of the washerbars are employed, arranged oppositiely in pairs and of a length to bereceived upon the two bolts associated with each rail end, the washerbars being engaged at one side by the bolt head 12 and opposite theretoby the usual spring or lock washer 14, positioned behind the usualretaining nut 15.. At 16 is shown the usual and standard form of tieplate providing a bearing for t-he rail base, having thevrail base edgeengaging shoulder 17 andapertured to receive the holding spikes 18 inposition when driven to have overlying engagement with the rail baseflange. ,4

In accordance with the present invention, the splice bars. which are ofsimilar form are of improved design or contour embodying an importantfeature of reinforcement at the central portion so as to possess addedstrength and rigidity at the region of the Vmeet-ing rail ends. For thispurpose, my improved splice bars, as shown, are formed withA a verticalweb portion 20 having a longitudinally continuous vertical outer face orsurface with upper and lower longitudinally extending and inwardlyprojecting bearing shoulder portions 21 and 22 providing inwardeXtensions or continuations of the fishing surfaces. For reinforcing thecentral portion of the bar in the vicinity of the meeting rail ends toafford added strength, both laterally and vertically, additional metalis provided by a substantial thickening of the web portion inwardly,which is shown at 24 in the form of an elongated shoulder or filletincrement to the web section connecting the fishing shoulder extensions21 and 22, having a vertical inner wall at its central region of maxiasprotection to the insulating fibre.

The improved insulated joint, by the einployment of the fish plate typeof splice bar effects a substantial economy inthe amount of insulatingfibre required and is i f-urther of advantage by reason of facilitatinginspection and also replacement of the fibre as required which isaccomplished by the removal of the splice bars without interferencewith`the tie plates and track fastenings. The insulation is of simple andinterchangeable form and includes the usual fibre end post 27`of acontour corresponding to the contour of the rail section and which isheld in effective position by its bearing engagement with the splice barinsulating vmembers 6.

IVhile I have disclosed an approved einbodiment of the features of myinvention, it vwill he Vunderstood that varied modifications thereof maybe made without departing'from the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims. As illustrative thereof, I have shown in Fig. 4 asuitable modification conforming to the foregoing disclosure with theaddition of a modification of thesplice bar which consists in providingan outwardly extending reinforcement of the bar at its central portionby the external thickening of the web at 29 to still the inner sidesVthereof and said bars being formed at their end portions With web.thickening fillets connecting theiishing shoulderA extensions,substantially as described.

2. In an insulated rail joint, the rail ends,` oppositely positionedsplice bars, insulating members interposed between the opposed surfacesof the rail ends and splice bars and said splice bars being of the fishplate type comprising vertical web portions having inwardlv extendingbearing shoulders on its upper and lower longitudinal edge portions andproviding fishing surfaces and provided with a reinforced centralportion formed by a thickening of the web inwardly to form' a filletrportion connecting the fishing shoulder extensions, said fillet portionhaving its inner face in a vertical plane with a central region ofmaximum thickness with its end portions tapered to gradually convergeinto the normal section of the web portion of said bars, being formed attheir end portions with web thickening fillets connecting thefishing'shoulf der extensions, substantially as described.

Signed at New York city, inthe country of and State of New York this18th day of September A. D. 1925. i

EMIL CARL ZIMMERMAN.

